Getting the Most Out of Text Messaging with REDCap
FollowText messaging is one of the most effective ways to reach research participants. SMS surveys see 40–50% response rates compared to 15–25% for email, and 95% of text messages are opened within three minutes. Here's how to make the most of text messaging in your REDCap projects.
What Can You Do with Text Messaging in REDCap?
- Survey delivery via SMS — Send REDCap survey links directly to participants' phones
- Automated appointment reminders — Reduce no-shows with scheduled text reminders
- Two-way text conversations — Communicate with participants in real time
- Alerts and notifications — Trigger text messages based on REDCap events or data entries
- ePRO and eDiaries — Collect patient-reported outcomes via text
Best Practices
- Keep messages short. SMS has a 160-character limit per segment. Test your messages to make sure survey links don't get broken across segments on some devices.
- Be mindful of PHI. SMS is not considered a secure form of communication. Avoid including personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) in message text. Your IRB information sheet and/or consent should address SMS communication.
- Time your messages wisely. Know your participants and when they're most likely to respond to survey invitations.
- Use a dedicated number. A consistent phone number across your projects helps participants recognize and trust your messages.
Resources
- Text Messaging Integration with REDCap (Mosio) — Overview of how Mosio integrates with REDCap for SMS
- 11 Ways Text Messaging Makes REDCap Even More Powerful (Mosio)
- REDCap Survey Example: Is SMS the Best Delivery Method? (Mosio)
- SMS Text Messaging (University of Utah CTSI)
- REDCap Mosio SMS Service (University of Wisconsin)
- How to Configure Mosio Texting Service in REDCap (University of Michigan)